August 6, 2019 | International, Other Defence
Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds hosted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on 4 August in Sydney for the 29th Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) to deepen economic, security, and strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and globally.
As Prime Minister Morrison and President Trump reaffirmed at the G20 in Osaka on June 27, Australia and the United States are the closest of allies. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing: momentous events in our shared history, and emblematic of Australia and the United States' long partnership in war and peace.
Minister Payne and Secretary Pompeo agreed that our alliance today is more vital than ever, with our work together in the Indo-Pacific region the clear, shared focus. The Ministers and Secretaries emphasized the need for an increasingly networked structure of alliances and partnerships to maintain an Indo-Pacific that is secure, open, inclusive and rules-based; and where nations conduct themselves in ways that enhance regional stability, reinforce international law, and respect the sovereignty of all countries. Both countries stand ready to work with all nations to strengthen a regional order based on these principles.
Australia and the United States underscored their shared commitment to the security, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region. Minister Payne and Secretary Pompeo welcomed ASEAN's recent ‘Outlook on the Indo-Pacific', which shares many of the underlying principles identified in our respective visions for the region, and discussed ways to support ASEAN in implementing its Outlook. Both nations reaffirmed their strong support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN-led regional architecture, underlining the value of the East Asia Summit as the region's premier Leaders-led forum for addressing political and security challenges.
The principals shared a commitment to deepen cooperation with a range of partners, including with Japan and India, and welcomed the recent Trilateral Strategic Dialogue and Trilateral Defence Ministerial meetings as ways to advance trilateral policy coordination. The Ministers and Secretaries also welcomed the increased engagement in the Indo-Pacific by the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the EU, and expressed their readiness to further boost cooperation on development, infrastructure investment and defense cooperation.
Both countries recognized the growing strategic and economic importance of India, and the significance of South Asia and the Indian Ocean region to ensuring an open, rules-based Indo-Pacific. They committed to further collaboration with India and other partners to support regional architecture, including IORA, regional infrastructure, and to deeper engagement with them on a broad range of security issues, including maritime security and oceans governance, cyber security, counter-terrorism and transnational crime.
They committed to further support Southeast Asian states, in particular through maritime and other security cooperation, infrastructure development, and good governance. In maritime Southeast Asia they recognized the importance of Indonesia as a maritime axis between the Pacific and Indian Oceans while in the Mekong sub-region, they discussed U.S. and Australian initiatives to improve water governance, address transnational crime, expand connectivity, and support the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) and the Mekong River Commission.
In the Pacific, Australia and the United States intend to strengthen their cooperation with Pacific Island partners to realize the Pacific's vision for a region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity. They pledged to support Pacific partners to advance their economic and security priorities, including those set out in the Boe Declaration on Regional Security.
Ministers and Secretaries affirmed support for democratic systems, encouraging strong civil society, countering foreign interference, combatting corruption, and fortifying institutions to help nations attract high-quality private investment and secure their sovereignty.
Recognizing the immense demand for infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region, both countries reiterated their commitment to the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment, which G20 leaders recently endorsed at the Osaka Summit. They pledged to apply these principles to projects in the region: through the Australia-Japan-U.S. Trilateral Infrastructure Partnership, the new Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific, and the U.S. Development Finance Corporation.
Minister Reynolds and Secretary Esper emphasized the importance of Australia-U.S. defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region – including through enhanced defense engagement and capacity building with partners in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Minister Reynolds and Secretary Esper underscored the importance of fostering closer industry partnership to safeguard supply chains through programs such as the Joint Strike Fighter. They noted Australia's inclusion in the US National Technology Industrial Base will strengthen their respective industrial bases and collaboration into the future.
They also welcomed a major milestone in the Force Posture Initiatives, as the rotational deployment of U.S. Marines in Darwin has reached 2500 personnel in 2019. The principals emphasized the value of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) in strengthening the alliance, and in deepening engagement with regional partners.
Minister Reynolds and Secretary Esper affirmed their commitments to strengthening defense collaboration in science and technology, from research and development to missile defense, as well as coordinating security cooperation with partners in the region through joint training and exercise opportunities. They also noted this year's first iteration of Exercise Pacific Vanguard and looked forward to future exercises including the United States, Australia, the Republic of Korea and Japan.
The principals expressed serious concerns at continued militarization of disputed features in the South China Sea. They strongly objected to coercive unilateral actions by any claimant state that could alter the status quo and increase tensions. The Ministers and Secretaries also expressed concern about disruptive activities in relation to long-standing oil and gas projects as well as fisheries in the South China Sea. They emphasized the importance of upholding freedom of navigation, overflight and other lawful uses of the sea and of all States' acting in accordance with international law. They called on all countries to make and pursue their maritime claims in accordance with international law, as reflected in the UN Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS). The Ministers and Secretaries underscored the importance of the July 2016 decision in the Philippines-China Arbitral Tribunal's Award, which is binding on the parties. They called for any Code of Conduct to: be fully consistent with international law, in particular UNCLOS; not prejudice the interests of third parties or the rights of states under international law; and support existing, inclusive regional architecture.
The Ministers and Secretaries expressed concern about the potential establishment of new military bases that could undermine stability and sovereignty in the Indo-Pacific region. They exchanged views on recent reports, such as in relation to Cambodia, and undertook to remain in close contact on developments.
Both countries reaffirmed the shared objective of North Korea abandoning all its weapons of mass destruction and missile programs as required by multiple UN Security Council Resolutions. Australian Ministers welcomed the United States' commitment to continue talks with North Korea toward the goal of final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea. The Secretaries and Ministers intend to continue to work together closely, and with other partners, to maintain pressure on North Korea, including by implementing all existing UN Security Council Resolutions.
The United States and Australia shared concerns about threats to freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted passage of maritime trade in the strategic sea-lanes in the Middle East, and noted that attacks on civilian shipping were of grave concern and a serious threat to the safety of navigation.
Recalling the territorial defeat of ISIS (Da'esh) announced in March 2019, the Ministers and Secretaries reaffirmed their commitment to continuing cooperation under the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (Da'esh). Australia and the United States are also working with NATO to ensure Afghanistan never again becomes a base for international terrorism. Both countries underscored the need to remain vigilant to the threat of the dispersal of foreign terrorist fighters across the region, including in Southeast Asia. The United States welcomed Australia's recent announcement of a further contribution of air assets in support of continuing Global Coalition efforts to defeat ISIS (Da'esh) remnants in Syria and Iraq, as well as Australia's financial contributions to support demining and other stabilization programs in Iraq.
The principals underscored the crucial role that women play in peace and security work around the globe. Both nations remain committed to collaboration in protecting the human rights of women and girls in fragile and conflict-affected contexts and to promoting meaningful participation by women in conflict prevention, security responses, peacebuilding and relief and recovery efforts.
Ministers and Secretaries commended U.S. and Australian leadership on the Global Health Security Agenda. They welcomed new initiatives, such as the U.S.-Australia Military Health Security Summit, and joint support for capacity building activities to mitigate infectious disease threats.
The United States and Australia remain committed to realizing an open, interoperable, reliable, free and secure internet, and will increase collaboration, including with likeminded countries and the private sector, to advance this objective. The principals welcomed the recent G20 Leaders' Statement on Preventing Exploitation of the Internet for Terrorism and Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism, and reiterated the importance of online platforms stepping up the ambition and pace of their efforts to prevent terrorist and violent extremist content from being streamed, uploaded, or re-uploaded. Both nations also committed to promoting responsible state behavior in cyberspace.
The Ministers and Secretaries affirmed the need for a new era in arms control that expands the number of states and weapon systems included in negotiated agreements and increases efforts to reduce nuclear risks. To this end, and without foreclosing the possibility of New START extension, they called on Russia and China to come to the table and join the United States in its efforts to advance a future-oriented agenda on arms control, building on the enduring importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Ministers and Secretaries intend to build resilience in sensitive sectors of our respective economies, including critical technologies, infrastructure, systems and minerals.
The principals welcomed the strong relationship between the Australian Space Agency (ASA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the first Australia-U.S. Civil Space Dialogue. Both countries remain committed to working constructively with partners in multilateral fora to promote norms for appropriate behavior in outer space.
The United States will host the next AUSMIN in 2020.
October 12, 2022 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR
The service plans to solicit industry ideas in the coming weeks and aims to move quickly to demonstrate the counter-small UAS technology.
June 19, 2024 | International, Aerospace
July 23, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
AIR FORCE AECOM Management Services Inc., Germantown, Maryland (FA3002-20-D-0012); AKIMA Logistics Services LLC, Herndon, Virginia (FA3002-20-D-0013); DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas (FA3002-20-D0010); Jacobs Technology Inc., Fort Walton Beach, Florida (FA3022-20-D-0014); Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia (FA3002-20-D-0011); M1 Support Services LP, Denton, Texas (FA3002-20-D-0015); PAE Services LLC, Arlington, Virginia (FA3002-20-D-0016); and Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Missouri (FA3002-20-D-0017), have been awarded a maximum $14,000,000,000 multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for Aircraft Maintenance Enterprise Solution -- a strategic sourcing vehicle for Air Force-wide contracted aircraft maintenance. The contractors will provide all organizational-level maintenance services for all aircraft listed in each individual task order performance work statement, which can include any aircraft platform (excluding rotary wing, tiltrotor and remotely piloted aircraft). Because this is an IDIQ, the location of performance is not known at this time and will be cited on individual task orders. Generally, work will be performed at government facilities and is expected to be completed Sept. 14, 2030. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with 19 offers received. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA3002-19-R-A001). DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a $17,760,615 modification (P00004) to contract FA3002-19-D-A004 to increase the ceiling for the firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for J85 engine maintenance. This contract provides for managing the full cycle of production by planning, scheduling, directing and controlling all maintenance on jet engines and support equipment, as well as monitoring serviceable base stock levels and target serviceable requirements of each customer. Work will be performed at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2020. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. The Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded a $16,284,463 cost-plus-award-fee undefinitized task order under the ground subsystems sustainment contract (FA8214-15-D-0001) for the Minuteman III general sustainment. Work will be performed in Layton, Utah, and is expected to be completed Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,142,232 are being obligated at the time of award of the base period. The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8214-20-F-0082). Advantor IDS Inc., Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $9,999,999 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for intrusion detection system (IDS) supplies and ancillary services. The contractor shall provide all supplies (hardware) and complete all installation of all IDS and test operations. Work will be performed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be completed July 16, 2025. This award is the result of sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $237,456 are being obligated at the time of award. The Directorate of Contracting, Edwards AFB, California, is the contracting activity. CORRECTION: The contract announced on July 20, 2020, to BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, for the Instrumentation Range Support Program, has not yet been awarded. CORRECTION: The contract announced on July 20, 2020, to six firms for design-build construction efforts at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, included an incorrect location for RORE Inc. (FA4620-20-0009). The firm is actually located in Gig Harbor, Washington. ARMY Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $702,881,910 modification (P00042) to contract W31P4Q-18-C-0130 for procurement of Hellfire missiles. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2023. Fiscal 2010, 2011, 2018, 2019 and 2020 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $702,754,471 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Southwest Valley Constructors, Albuquerque, New Mexico, was awarded a $24,577,981 modification (P00016) to contract W912PL-19-C-0015 to design and construct approximately 31.65 miles of three-phase power distribution, lighting, closed-circuit television camera, linear ground detection system and shelters for the Barrier Wall Project. Work will be performed in Lukeville, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 7, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $24,577,981 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the contracting activity. Agile Infrastructure Services LLC,* Pinehurst, Idaho, was awarded a $13,000,000 modification (P00010) to contract W9124C-15-D-0005 for construction, repair and maintenance of installation facilities on Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Bids were solicited via the internet with nine received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 17, 2020. U.S. Army 419th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, is the contracting activity. (Awarded July 15, 2020) Joseph B. Fay Co., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $12,938,950 firm-fixed-price contract for the repair and rehabilitation of the gate hoist machinery and the performance of control-system upgrades at the Montgomery Locks and Dam. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Monaca, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 10, 2022. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 civil operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $12,938,950 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (W911WN-20-C-8002). DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY L3 Applied Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of L3Harris Technologies Inc., San Leandro, California, will be awarded a $73,752,927 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (with one firm-fixed-price line item for long lead time materials) for X-ray simulators for test and evaluation of nuclear survivability. Work will be performed at the contractor's location in San Leandro, California, and is expected to be completed by May 2025. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,827,342 will be obligated at the time of award. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HDTRA1-20-C-0038). NAVY Crowley Government Services, Jacksonville, Florida, is awarded a $24,070,898 firm-fixed-price contract with reimbursable elements extension to continue the operation and maintenance of five T-AGOS ocean surveillance ships and two T-AGM missile range instrumentation ships. This extension includes one six-month base and two six-month option periods which, if exercised, will bring the cumulative value of this contract to $450,127,044. Work will be performed at sea worldwide. The following ships will be worked on: USNS Victorious T-AGOS 19; USNS Able T-AGOS 20; USNS Effective T-AGOS 21; USNS Loyal T-AGOS 22; USNS Impeccable T-AGOS 23; USNS Invincible T-AGM 24; and the USNS Howard T-AGM 25. Work is expected to be completed by January 2021. Navy working capital funds in the amount of $24,070,898 are obligated for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021 and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract extension was not competitively procured. The contract was prepared under the provisions of 10 U.S. Code §2304(c)(1), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii). There is only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N62387-15-C-2505). S&S Concrete Construction,* Leesburg, Georgia, is awarded a $10,000,000 maximum amount, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity construction contract for asphalt paving and minor concrete work at Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, Georgia. No task orders are being issued at this time. The work will be performed in Albany, Georgia. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months and work is expected to be completed by September 2025. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) (O&M, N) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M, N. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and eight bids were received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-20-D-0101). National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California, is awarded a $10,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-4404 for USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) emergency firefighting support, dewatering, safety and initial clean-up efforts. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by November 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,700,000 was obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $7,634,002 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-14-C-5106 for the production and delivery of AEGIS weapon system MK 6 MOD 1 spares for new construction and AEGIS modernization guided missile destroyers. Work will be performed in Clearwater, Florida (90%); and Moorestown, New Jersey (10%), and is expected to be completed by April 2022. Fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy); and 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $7,634,002 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Patriot Construction Co., Dunkirk, Maryland, is awarded a $7,173,707 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of training facilities at Marine Corps Base (MCB), Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Work will be performed in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The work to be performed is for the construction of Special Operations Forces Human Performance Training Facilities, miscellaneous supporting structures, modifications to buildings RR-136 and RR-136A, utilities, parking, roadways and site work. The structures will be single-story steel frame buildings with brick veneer over metal studs, standing seam metal roofs, metal soffits, translucent wall panels and mezzanines. Special construction features include soil surcharge loads and storm water best management practices. Electrical systems include primary power distribution; lighting; energy monitoring/control systems; intrusion detection system; telephone/data and switch/server rooms; electrical switch gear; transformers; circuits; and fire alarms. Mechanical systems include plumbing; fire protection; compressed air; dehumidification; air conditioning systems; a chiller yard; and digital controls. Information systems include telephone, data, local area network, mass notification and intercom. Site work will include building utility systems; traffic control; parking; domestic water; fire protection water; sanitary sewer; sewage conveyance; propane gas networks; perimeter security fencing; gates; storm water; management; fiber/copper communications; cable television; and area lighting. Construction includes sustainable features complying with high performance sustainable building guiding principles. Work is expected to be completed by February 2022. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $7,173,707 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website and three proposals were received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-20-C-0142). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2283344/source/GovDelivery/